Space shuttle Endeavour returns to Earth

Published: Monday, February 22, 2010, 11:52 [IST]

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Washington, Feb 22 (ANI): Space shuttle Endeavour and six astronauts ended a 14-day journey of more than 5.7 million miles with a landing on Sunday, February 21, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The STS-130 mission to the International Space Station included three spacewalks and the installation of the Tranquility node, a module that provides additional room for crew members and many of the space station's life support and environmental control systems.

Attached to Tranquility is a cupola with seven windows that offers a panoramic view of Earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecraft.

Tranquility and its cupola are the final major US portions of the station.

The orbiting laboratory now is approximately 90 percent complete in terms of mass.

George Zamka commanded the flight and was joined on the mission by Pilot Terry Virts and Mission Specialists Kathryn Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken.

With Endeavour and its crew safely home, the stage is set for launch of shuttle Discovery on its STS-131 mission, targeted to lift off April 5.

Discovery's 13-day flight will deliver supplies, a new crew sleeping quarters and science racks that will be transferred to the station's laboratories. (ANI)